Coaches

Biography

Tim Walton joined the Lions as secondary coach in 2009. Before coming to Detroit, he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Memphis (2008) and had additional responsibilities coaching the safeties. Throughout his 14-year collegiate coaching career, Walton coached 13 players who were eventually drafted into the NFL, including five first round picks (Patriots S Brandon Merriweather, Seahawks CB Kelly Jennings, Giants CB Kenny Phillips, Redskins S LaRon Landry and Cardinals S Antrel Rolle) and four second round picks (S Idrees Bashir, WR/KR Devin Hester, S Michael Stone and CB Corey Webster).

Tim Walton joined the Lions as secondary coach in 2009. Before coming to Detroit, he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Memphis (2008) and had additional responsibilities coaching the safeties. Throughout his 14-year collegiate coaching career, Walton coached 13 players who were eventually drafted into the NFL, including five first round picks (Patriots S Brandon Merriweather, Seahawks CB Kelly Jennings, Giants CB Kenny Phillips, Redskins S LaRon Landry and Cardinals S Antrel Rolle) and four second round picks (S Idrees Bashir, WR/KR Devin Hester, S Michael Stone and CB Corey Webster).

LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: Walton coached a secondary that excelled in making big plays in 2011.

Detroit’s secondary accounted for 16 of the team’s 21 interceptions in 2011 which was the most by a group of Lions defensive backs since 2005 (16).

Of the unit’s 16 interceptions in 2011, three were returned for touchdowns, the most by a Lions secondary since 2001 (3).

Lions CB Chris Houston led team with a career-high 5 interceptions for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2011 and was second with 14 pass defenses. Houston was one of only three NFL players in 2011 with 2 interception returns for touchdowns.

As a rookie in 2009, S Louis Delmas finished second on the team with 91 tackles. His other defensive tallies included: two interceptions (130 yds), eight passes defensed, one sack and one fumble recovery. He became the only rookie in NFL history to record a safety (vs. GB 11/26), an interception return for a touchdown (Arz 12/20) and return a fumble for a touchdown (at NO 9/13) in the same season. Delmas led the defense with 84 tackles (62 solo) in 2010 despite playing most of the season with a groin injury.

Prior to joining Memphis, Walton spent the previous four seasons (2004-07) with the Miami Hurricanes. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in February of 2007 and helped propel the defense to a national ranking of 33rd in total defense. In his first three seasons at Miami, he coached the defensive backs and the Miami secondary ranked in the top 10 nationally in pass defense in 2004 (ninth) and 2005 (first).

In 2005, Walton's pass defense led the nation, allowing only 152.17 yards per game, and featured All-Americans safety Brandon Meriweather and cornerback Kelly Jennings as well as Freshman All-American Kenny Phillips.

Walton was at LSU in 2003 and his defensive backs were a key factor in the Tigers earning the 2003 BCS National Championship and a Southeastern Conference title. The LSU defense ranked among the nation's top three in four-of-five major defensive statistical categories: total defense (first, 252.0 yards per game), scoring defense (first, 11.0 ppg), pass efficiency defense (second, 89.8 rating) and rushing defense (third, 67.0 yards per game). Additionally, LSU ranked 18th nationally in passing yardage defense (185.0 ypg) while leading the SEC in four of the five defensive categories, including a No. 2 ranking in the league in pass defense.

In his first stint with Memphis (2000-01), Walton coached defensive backs. In 2000, the Tigers ranked fifth in the nation in total defense (first in rush defense), allowing only 275 yards per game and placed in the top 15 nationally in passing and scoring defense. He left Memphis to coach defensive backs at Syracuse for the 2002 season.

Walton began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Bowling Green in 1995. He was promoted to running backs coach in 1996 and then moved to coach the defensive backs in 1999.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Walton has had three summer internships with NFL teams. He spent the summer of 1998 serving as a defensive intern with the Chicago Bears, the summer of 2001 as a defensive intern for the Green Bay Packers and in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under current Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.

As a defensive back at Ohio State, Walton lettered four seasons and served as co-captain for the Big Ten champions in 1993. During his time with the Buckeyes, OSU went to four bowl games, including the Liberty Bowl in 1990. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from OSU in 1994.

Walton and his wife, Tracy, have three children: Trei, Timia and Tyler.